Domain names are very important for businesses, blogs or for any website. It should align with the overall goal of your website or something you personally like. If you are just starting a new business then you have to think of a business name that will have a related domain name also.
A domain name is a website’s address and websites are known as web properties. So, if you just cannot choose any address for your real estate property, how can you choose anything you like for your web property. Sometimes a short and memorable domain is all it takes to make a business successful or unsuccessful.
Sometimes new businesses try to cut costs by purchasing a generic domain or renting a domain name. That is not something which can help you in today’s time. It is important to invest in something which is the foundation of your online presence.
Two Important Points of Domains
Domain as a brand: If you have a business or if you working online/offline, always try to set up a domain name that can be used as a brand name also. For example, Walmart is a domain name but it is the brand name also. Similarly, Amazon is a domain name but it is the brand name also. Short, sweet and memorable.
Domain as a brand with keywords: If your brand is about cars and if you can choose a domain name having the keyword as well then in the long term it can benefit you a lot. Although this doesn’t have much weight nowadays still, if you can do something to improve your overall brand then you should definitely do it (for example, if your business is all about hammers, then having the keyword “hammers” in the domain can help to some extent).
How important is your domain name?
A domain name adds credibility to your small business. Having your own domain name makes your company look professional. If you publish your site through an ISP or a free Web hosting site, you’ll end up with a URL such as www.yourisp.com/-yourbusiness. This generic address does not inspire confidence in a customer like a www.yourcompany.com domain name does. And since many people don’t yet trust the Internet and e-commerce, you’ll want to do what you can to prove that your small business deserves their money. If you’re not willing to pay money to register an appropriate domain name, why would consumers think you’d put any effort into creating valuable products or services?
A domain name says you’re forward-thinking. Having your own domain name indicates you are part of the Digital Revolution, and it implies that you’re up-to-date on emerging technologies. Whether this is true or not, having your own domain name might just put you ahead of your competitors.
A domain name adds mobility to your Internet presence. Owning your own domain name lets you take that name with you if you transfer Web hosts or switch to your own in-house server. If you don’t own your domain name, you’ll have to take a new URL, which will destroy the branding that you built up with your first address.
The right domain name can attract walk-in business. If you decide to register a domain name that matches the concept of your business (instead of your exact business name), you might draw Web surfers in search of that topic. For instance, a hardware store that registered Hammers.com might get visitors looking for hammers on the Internet. Also, although search engine results are hard to predict, Hammers.com could show up more frequently in search results when someone searches for information about hammers.
A domain name builds your brand. More than anything else, a domain name can increase awareness of your brand. If your domain name matches your company name, it reinforces your brand, making it easier for customers to remember and return. It will also be easier to win business via word of mouth because customers will remember your name and pass it along to friends.
How to decide on a domain name?
Your brand says everything about you, your values, your identity, and what you promise to deliver. Why should your domain name be any different? Before choosing one, it’s important that you educate yourself on the different styles and types of domain names out there so you can make the best decision for your needs.
A new startup business should select a domain name that parallels—or even better, matches—the company name to direct customers to your site without any confusion. This is a great opportunity to choose a name for your business that is unique and available as a domain before announcing yourself to the world. If you already own an existing business and your company name or certain keywords you wish to use are not available, a little creativity might be needed to select a domain name. We’ll get into that later in this article. A quick domain name search will show if your desired domain name is available or not.
Length of Domain Name
It is always better to have a domain name that is short and easy to remember. Ideally, the length should be between 6-10 letters, with 8 being the sweet spot. Simple, concise, and typeable should be the rule over longer, more descriptive names.
The longer the domain, the more opportunity there is for a misspelling when typing. Also, when combining words in a domain, beware of letters that don’t normally link together or are confusing, like expertsexchange.com for the site Experts Exchange. Not ideal.
Avoid using hyphens and numbers as they can complicate and frustrate users. Always remember: simple is best.
Premium Domains
For the most part, a .com address is ideal, but if your desired domain name is not available, don’t despair. Your dream domain might still be available, but it will probably cost you.
A current operating business may be using the domain, but oftentimes, domains are purchased and never used, the company has gone out of business, or the domain was snatched up as an investment and is for sale. These are known as Premium Domains. If you are convinced that your business must have a certain unavailable domain name to succeed, investing in a premium domain name upfront could pay off in the long run.
Benefits of A Premium Domain
Simple, short, and sweet: Since just about all of the common words and phrases are already registered as a domain, going premium might be your only hope to brand your company using a succinct or catchy domain name.
Credibility: A highly valued domain will instantly thrust your site into the realm of the top players in your industry, and establish trust with the public that could otherwise take years to develop.
Attract more commerce: With a simple and direct premium domain name, such as petinsurance.com (taken by Nationwide Insurance) or visitparis.com, people looking for your product or service can bypass a Google search and simply type the address into the search bar and be sent directly to your site.
Highly esteemed: Most premium domains have been around for a long time, and have accrued a ton of backlinks, which drive consumers with referrals from other sites to your own. This also has a big impact on the site’s SEO ranking.
A solid investment: If your business grows like you hope it will, the value of your premium domain name will also increase. Therefore, it becomes a very desirable asset if you choose to sell it down the road.
